I am sorry for the delay in responding. My husband passed away on the 18th of August 2004. His tumor, in the head of the pancreas, was considered inoperatable. His treatment was radiation 28 times with a 'splash' of chemo. The radiation was five days a week for five and a half weeks. Chemo (5FU) was giving the first three days and the last three days of radiation. Then a month before another CT Scan. He tolerated this treatment remarkably well except for the nausea. But it was hard to tell if the nausea was from the treatment or the cancer. It seems he never could get on top of the nausea from prior to diagnosis to the end. He started additional chemo (Gemzar) the beginning of August. He had two treatments before he died.
I am glad you shared your story with me. It is encouraging to hear your story as a survivor. Congratulations on your fourth anniversary as a survivor!
I have passed your message on to another friend whose husband just had surgery for pancreatic cancer. It has only been about a week. He is so discouraged because of the pain. I have tried to be encouraging for both of them. What I have read on the Whipple Surgery seems to be so positive after the initial healing from the surgery.
I would like to hear your thoughts on nutrition while fighting pancreatic cancer. But then maybe your experience would be different since you were able to have surgery.
The area we found confusing/conflicting is the issue of protein, especially albumin. Some of the information we researched indicated that the body is not able to digest the protein while impaired with the pancreatic cancer. I asked if he should eat less protein so as not to tax the pancreas during treatment. Yet our doctor insisted he needed to eat more protein because his albumin levels were low. I inquired about taking pancreatic enzymes to help with digestion but was told they were not indicated.
Thank you for the information regarding PanCan. I am aware of this wonderful organization. We found so much help and encouragement from them. Will you be attending the PanCan Symposium this weekend in S. CA? I will be attending. I am not sure what to expect from the conference but I think it will help me with closure.
Thank you again for your message.
Linda